ITB Asia, the premier travel trade show in Asia, has officially opened its doors at the renowned Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, marking the beginning of three days filled with unparalleled networking opportunities and insightful conference sessions.
The event, co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, has attracted international exhibitors from across the globe.
The opening ceremony was graced by Guest of Honour Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore, alongside Melissa Ow, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, and David Ruetz, Senior Vice President of Messe Berlin. Together, they inaugurated the event, setting the stage for a series of productive interactions and knowledge-sharing sessions.
David Ruetz expressed his enthusiasm about the noticeable increase in international exhibitors, highlighting ITB Asia’s role as a trendsetter in the travel industry. “As the world continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, we anticipate ITB Asia to become a breeding ground for cutting-edge trends, fostering a space for free idea exchange and sustainable collaborations,” he stated.
This year’s exhibition features an impressive lineup of over 80 National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs), with headline sponsors including Busan Tourism Organization, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Startup Center, Penang Global Tourism, Sentosa Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and Visit Finland. These partnerships are expected to facilitate hundreds of collaborations between destinations, buyers, and service providers.
The ITB Asia Conference, under the theme “Accelerating Growth: Paving the Way for New Opportunities in Travel & Tourism,” promises to be a hub for innovative ideas and networking. Over 160 speakers will deliver 4,000 minutes of speeches across more than 100 sessions spanning three days, covering critical topics in MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel, and travel technology.
Keynote speakers Hermione Joye, Sector Lead of Travel and Vertical Search APAC at Google, and James Liang, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Board at Trip.com Group, are set to deliver opening remarks. The conference will run concurrently with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, providing attendees with a comprehensive view of the industry.
The Startup Arena, located within the Travel Tech Asia Hall, presents a unique opportunity for startup exhibitors to showcase their innovative solutions to a discerning audience.
Looking ahead to 2024, booth registration for next year’s ITB Asia is already open, with Super Early Bird rates available until 31 October 2023.
